Container for tortillas and other heated food



Oct. 11, 1949. J. MALDONADO CONTAINER FOR TORTILLAS AND OTHER HEATED FOOD Filed July 21, 1947 I N VEN TOR.

@@@M TTM/VH Patented Oct. 11, 1949 HEATED FOOD J uvencio Maldonado, New York, N. Y.l I Application July 21, 1947,-Scrial No. 762,478

1 Claim (Cl. 22o-4)) The present invention relates to containers for tortillas and other heated food articles and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.

Generally the invention comprises an outer container adapted Yto hold a quantity of waterl and which outer container is adapted to be placed upon a stove or other heating means. The container is provided with a cover and an inner container with means for spacing the inner container from the bottom sides and top of the outer container. Suitable handles are provided for lifting the entire unit and a handle is provided for the cover of the outer container.

A spacing device is positioned at the bottom of the inner container to prevent food from sticking to the bottom thereof. Special means is provided, also, for releasing the inner container from the outer container, said means consisting of a cam adapted tobe moved by an integrally formed handle and which cam bears against a projection carried by ithe' side lofthe inner container, it being understood that the cam'is secured to the outer. containerso'asto secure relative movement between the containers. Means is also provided `whereby the inner conl tainer, upon being properly positioned .within the outer container, may not become displaced therefrom.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide a device of the character described wherein food vmay be stored in a heated condition within a container which is at all times surf.,

rounded by a blanketvofheated water.`

A further object of theinvention is to provide novel means whereby one container may be removably positioned within another in spaced relation from the sides and bottom thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provision of means whereby one container may be removably positioned in spaced relation to another and having means utilizing the force of gravity to prevent accidental displacement of the inner container.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means carried by an outer container for applying force to an inner container to release the same from the outer container.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly Set forth.

. l 2 In the accompanying drawing forming a material part `of this disclosure:

"Fig, 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment ofthe invention. i

Fig. 2 is a perspective VView of the invention disclosed in Fig. 1 with a cover, forming part of the invention, in open position.

' Fig. 3 is an lenlarged sectional view of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 2. y y

Fig. 5 is aside elevational View of an inner container forming a part of the invention.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 6 6 of Fig..2.y

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating certain features of the invention.

Figs. Sand 9 are.views similar to Fig. 7 but showing modified forms the invention may assume., .Y A f Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is vshown therein a storage apparatus for heated food articles comprising an outer container I0 ofgenerally cylindrical shape having aflat bottom, Il and a pair of diametrically opposed handles I2 and I3. A cover I4 is provided for the outer container I0 and is hinged to the arm as `indicated at I5. It also is providedlwith lanoperating handle I6. The cover also V,is provided with a dependent annular flange I'I adapted to closely align itself with the upper end4 of the container tofinsure a close fit therewith.,

i'iTh'e outer container is'l provided adjacent its upper'end' witha pairbf inwardly extending shelf members I8 surmounting which in spaced parallel relation in each case is a guide member I9.

The members I8 and I9 are fastened to the inner side of the container I 0 by means of integrally formed ears 20 which may be riveted or otherwise attached to the container. It will be noted that the guide members I9 are of less length than the shelf member I8, thus leaving an exposed portion 2l upon each shelf member.

An inner container 22 is provided with a bottom 23 and is of substantially cylindrical shape. The inner container is provided at its upper end with a pair of diametrically opposed outwardly extending detents 24 which are provided with dependent integrally formed stops 25.

A plate 26 having a dependent annular rest 21 and perforations as indicated at 28 is adapted to be placed upon the bottom 23 of the container In operation, the device is particularly suitable for maintaining food articles such as, tortillas, and other foods in a` heated condition. In order to effect this result, water is first placed within the container l whereupon it is heated by placingr the container over a source of heat. The inner container is then lowered into the outer container and the detents 24 come into contact with the exposed',. portions 2l o'ithe: shelf` members i8. until the detents 24, passing between the shelf members I8 and the guide members I9, reach a position vwhere the stops 25i:come^into rcontact with the shelf members I8. This actionl .Will position the inner container 33 in spaced relation with the outer container I0 andprovide a wall of heated water between the respectivef'sidesrfand the respective bottoms of the containers.

The plate 26 may thenbe placed within the container 22 and heated foodstuffs placed thereon. The plate'zwillvprevent suchfoodarticlesi'frcm adhering to the bottom-foffthercontainerfZZ; The cover Id is'then'closedfanddt will'befapparent that so long as heat is applied tofthe'outer'con'- tainer such food articles will be maintainedlinfa heated condition. l

In the form of the invention disclosed inigr-S, it will be seen that-there isfprov-ifdedan -arm'f29 riveted or otherwise fastened to a guide member i9 as-indicated-at'ffS. 'Toi'thefouter endfof `the arm 2,9 is pivoted a cam 3| having an integrally formed operatingfhand-lfaZ.

In the operationof thisl device; it will beapparent `that whenthefcontainerfZZhas been associated with the container I for'aperiod V'of-"time, there will be a tendency-forthe detente 24't0 adhere 4 to the shelf'v members i8E and'guide members i9; lBy'movingfthe-handleSZ oithe-caml in a clockwise direction; as vieWedfinFig. 8, itw'ill'f be apparent that the cammed surfaces willbea-rV against the detent 124 tounge thesameout of engagement withthe Amembers I8 andl IS.

In` the form `of the invention disclosedin Fig. 9,v

it will be apparentithatsthemmembers"I8:and i9,

while 'remaining in parallelspaced relation, slant downwardly from. the exposed portionfZl. `The' detent 24' is likewise-slantedlinthe same direction.

It will .be seen that whenitheinner container is loweredlinto'the outercontaineryin this latter form .of the invention that, upon 'the detent 2'4 reaching the exposed portion? IY ofthe shelfl member i8, the shelf' member andthe containerl22 will tend to rotate by gravity until the. dependent stop memberszcomel intocontact vszithnheshelf members I8'.

The innerrcontaineris then rotated u claim as new, and desire to secure by United `LStates'iLettersBatezit is:

-Adevice of the character described comprising,

,anfouter cylindrical container provided with an enclosed bottomand an open top, a closure for lsaidopenig'itpzliinged to the Vertical wall of said container, a horizontal track secured about theinner circumference of the container at a spaced distance below the open end thereof, diametrical-lyioposed interruptions in1V sai'dftrack, an inner' v'f'zylindrical'l container ?hav-ing an enclosed bottom andan"epen-ftop,v -a horizontal detent formedrab'out the upper 'outer circumference of said inner container, said detent removably eli-- gageableins'a-idl track" to-*removably suspend the inner containerv entirely within'- the' outer container, stop' members on-r said-detent -engageable with' said track'ati thepcintsfofjoinderl with the interrupted portions thereof', a perforated plate provide'drwithrannular vrests onthe under side thereofv seated"v in thebottornl of saidvinner-containenya lever hingedLto-thelinner -wa11 of the outer container 4adiace-nt-an 1' interrupted portion of the'tracktherein, and' aca-m'hea'd carried by said 'lever 'rrio'vable into vvabutting Ucontact with thatj'end-of said `detentgremote `to said stopfor the` purpose described.

/ JUVENCIOMALDONADO.

REFERENcEscI-TED The followingfreferences areoLrecOr-dfin the fileof-.this: patent:

" 'STATES PA'I'ENFIS 9,912'. ;Grea.1...Britai- Apr. Y22, 1914 

